Irresistible Boss Succumbing to Your Touch (Maria Anita) novel Chapter 3

Flavian’s POV

I grabbed my phone and called my brother, but I was not prepared for what Raul told me. I hung up and saw three pairs of anxious eyes staring at me from the living room couch.

"What did he say, little brother?" Lexie wanted to know right away.

"Manu, do you have any idea of the size of your family's business?" I asked, looking at Manu, who seemed clueless about what I was talking about.

"It's a dairy company specialized in goat milk products. My grandfather started it, and I know the business grew with my father and brother. But it's a small, family business," Manu explained. "But I've already told you this, Flavian."

"Manu, have you ever talked to your brother about this?" I insisted.

"No! My grandfather left my brother Cam in charge of managing the inheritance he left me since I was underage when he died. As soon as I turned eighteen, my brother wanted to hand everything over to me, but I did not even want to know what it was. Before my mother had time to do anything, I signed power of attorney giving Cam full authority to do whatever he thought best with the inheritance my grandfather left me. Only the bank account that was already in my name I kept managing myself. But the rest, I never cared about, neither the business nor the money. And after I turned eighteen, I left home right away." Manu was truly detached.

"Manu, your family's business isn't that small. It's a market leader, growing steadily, exports are increasing more and more, and now your family also produces dairy from buffalo milk and vegan dairy products. Your brother seems to be some kind of Midas - everything he touches turns to gold, so to speak. What he and your father have done with this company is remarkable," I explained.

"And where does your father fit into all this?" Rick asked, not understanding.

"With the constant growth and the amount of money your brother makes in that company, my father is interested in becoming a partner, forming a partnership and expanding the business even more. He really had no idea the company was your family's, Manu. Raul said he was surprised when he received the information and even more surprised to discover that you own half of everything." I sat down on the couch next to her as she stared at me open-mouthed.

"This must be a mistake. You met my father and my brother, we're simple people, they run a small business. And my father has a partnership stake." Manu couldn't believe it.

"A business that employs half the residents in the region and generates income for local producers. Your family calls all the shots in their established area, they're the main source of income there." I explained.

"So Manu is an heiress. That explains dad's sudden friendliness." Lexie commented.

"Yeah, you're right. Looks like Manu has earned herself a place in the Moreno family." I scoffed.

"I don't get it." Rick looked back and forth between us.

"Manu has more money than she even knows about, certainly an exorbitant amount. Let's just say my father now considers Manu worthy of joining the Moreno family, Rick." Lexie explained.

"It can't be." Manu was disoriented.

"Big brother, you're not comparing Rick to that idiot William, are you?" Lexie looked at me disapprovingly, and I just huffed. "Oh, what a jealous brother I have!" Lexie was sitting next to me and kissed my cheek. I don't know why Rick and Manu were laughing.

"Flavian, your sister is going to get a boyfriend someday. Isn't it better if it's a friend?" Rick was enjoying the provocation.

"No, it's not better." I replied grumpily. Yes, I looked after my sister as if she were still a child because to me she was still that little girl who asked me to get the cookie jar from the high shelf in the cabinet.

"Ah, big brother, I love you too." Lexie rested her head on my shoulder and spoke in a confessional tone. "But like Rick said, sooner or later I'll have a boyfriend, and I'll get revenge for all the noise you and Manu make at night."

"Lexie!" I scolded her, my voice a bit louder than I intended, but they were all laughing at me and my shocked expression at what my little sister had said.

"You're such a fake puritan, Flavian! Your girlfriend is nineteen. Your sister is older than that." Rick reproached me. "Look, Lexie, if you want to start getting revenge, I can sleep here tonight."

"Damn it, Rick!" I was done with these two; they would drive me crazy. But at least it served to make my girl smile and forget all about the inheritance story. "Come on, let's go eat, I'm paying. And you keep your hands off my sister."

It was like throwing words to the wind. Rick and Lexie walked arm in arm like a couple, the friendship established between them had already reached a level of intimacy that was worrying me.